Fire-shield.



PATENTED MAR. 26, 1907.

D. S. WATSON. ,FIRE SHIELD.

APPLIUATION FILED FEB. a. 1906.

WIT/YE 555.5 I

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID s. WATSON, OF OANASTOTA, NEW YORK.

FIRE-SHIELD.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

'Be it known that I, DAVID S. WATSON, of Canastota, in the county of Madison, in the State of New York, have invented new and l useful Improvements in Fire Shields, of which the following, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

' This invention relates to improvements in fire-shields for floor and partition openings, the principal purpose of which is to retard or check direct draft through the belt and shaft openings in the floors and partitions of the building, so as to prevent as far as practical direct passage of the flames through such openings from one room to another of the building in case of fire. In other words, I have sought to prevent the spreading of the fire from floor to floor or room to room-by shields of fire-resisting material inclosing said openings and projecting a suflicient distance into the room to prevent the flames from being drawn by air-draft directly through said openings, thereby practically confining the fire to the room in which it originated.

Another object is to reduce insurance rates of factories and similar hazardous risks by closing as far as possible direct fire communication between the rooms of the building.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a portion of a building, showing a belt and openings in the floor through which the belt passes, together with my improved fireshields for preventing direct draft through such openings. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a partition of a building having a shaft-opening and a modified form of shield surrounding such openings and projecting some distance into the room. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the shields seen in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an inverted end view of the shield seen in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an end view of a modified form of shield adapted to be substituted for that shown in Fig. 1 and which is made in halves instead of being made in one piece, as seen in Figs. 1, 3, and 4. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the shield seen in Fig. 2.

In Fig. 1 I have shown a floor 1 of a building as provided with a belt-opening 2, through which a belt 3 is passed and mounted upon suitable ulleys 4 and 5, respectively beneath and a ove the floor. Secured, to and depending from the under side or ceiling of the floor 1 are fire-shields 6, preferably of fire-resisting material, such as metal, til- Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed February 5,

Patented March 26, 1907. 1906. Serial No. 299,640.

ing, or it might be made of wood covered with a coating of fireproof material, such as asbestos or fireproof paint. When used to protect the opening in the floor of the buildings, the upper ends of the shields are preferably formed with a flange 7 for receiving fastening-screws, as S, by which they may be secured to the under side of the floor or ceiling, and are made to entirely inclose the l lower ends of their respective openings and adjacent portions of the belt and project some distance downwardly into the room,-

suflicient to prevent the direct passage of the products of combustion or flames through the openings in the floor. WVhen used as a shield or fire-baflie for belt-openings, as shown in Fig. 1, they usually consist of tubes which are rectangular in cross-section and have their central opening of slightly greater cross-sectional dimensions than the belt which passes therethrough, sufficient clearance being left to permit the belt to travel freely in the tubular shield without friction. The particular shield or bafile-plate shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4. consists of a one-piece sheet-metal tube bent into rectangular form, having its ends meeting at one corner and provided with lugs or ears 9 for receiving a clamping-bolt 9, one end of the sides of the tube being oifset laterally for forming attaching-flanges 7. It is therefore apparent that the'tubular shield is split longitudinally through one of its sides, which enables it to be sprung open and passed around the belt without detaching the ends of the belt when placing it in operative position. The shield seen in Fig. 5 is for the same purpose, but is made in halves to enable it to be placed around opposite sides of the belt and afterward bolted together by suitable bolts or rivets 10. When thus formed, it may be made of vitrified clay, commonly known as tiling, or of any other fireproof material.

In Fig. 2 I have shown a portion of a partition 11 of a building as provided with a shaftopening 12, through which is passed a shaft 13, and a tubular fire shield 14, encircling the adjacent portion of the shaft and extending in opposite directions some distance beyond the opposite sides of the partition, so as to prevent direct draft or passage of the fire through the opening 12. This baflie-tube or shield 14 is provided with a suitable flange 15, by which the shield may be attached or secured by screws 16 to one side of the partition. The object of making this shield 'ative position without disturbing the shaft.

space, and will project into the room a sufficontinuous through the partition is to pre 1 cient distance from the floor or partition to vent any liability of the fire passing upprevent direct draft or passage of the fire wardly between the partition-joists; but I through such opening. may in some instances prefer to make it in l/Vhat I claim is sections arranged end to end, in which case A fire-shield for belt or similar openings in each section will be provided with an annular I floors and partitions of buildings, said fireflange, as 15, for securement to one side of shield being divided longitudinally throiwh the partition. This shield 14: is also made in one side to permit it to be placed around t e halves or split longitudin lly through one or belt or other device which may pass through both sides to enable it to be placed in opersaid opening, and means for securing sai shield to the floor or partition in line with the opening so as to project some distance into the room.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 20th day of January, 1906.

DAVID S. WVATSON.

I have shown and described the fire-shields as used in connection with belt and shaft openings; but they are obviously equally applicable for use in connection with any floor or partition opening which must necessarily be open all of the time, and in all cases the v shield will be made to conform to the shape l of the opening, so as to occupy a miminum Witnesses:

F. D. KEISLER, RALPH HARRISON. 

